§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if citizens band radio can be regulated using the existing monitoring services of the Post Office; and, if not, what additional expenditure this would involve;
- (2) if he will estimate the net benefit in the first 12 months of operation to the Exchequer of imposing a £5 annual citizens band radio licence;
- (3) what estimate he has made of the home market for the British electronics industry if citizens band radio were legalised;
- (4) what alternatives to the 27MHz radio band he is considering for citizens band radio.
§ Mr. RaisonThe possible frequency bands which could be used for citizens588W band radio if it were to be introduced, the likely level of demand for the facility and the administrative, regulatory and expenditure implications of its introduction, are all matters to which we are giving attention. However, as my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Scunthorpe (Mr. Brown) on 22 October—[Vol. 972, c. 7.]—it is too soon to say what the outcome of our review of this issue will be or when we shall be in a position to make an announcement.